JOHANNESBURG: PRESIDENT MESIC CALLS FOR BINDING CONCLUSIONS

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 2 (Hina) - In his speech at the UN Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg on Monday, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic conveyed Croatia's support for the Summit and its commitment to the stimulation of development and protection of eco-systems. Mesic also called on the statesmen participating in the event to adopt concrete and binding conclusions, implementable through the UN. #L# "Croatia will support any action aimed at stimulating development and protecting eco-systems. In this context we support this conference. We expect the adoption of conclusions that are not only clear and concrete, but also binding. We expect action which will start primarily at the United Nations, but not only there," Mesic said. He called on rich and developed countries to take the initiative and stop poverty and the "destruction of nature for the sake of development", stressing that their being the trail blazers in the initiative would be their long-term investment in the future. The Croatian president also stated that lack of development begot dependence, inequality and the inability to realise national rights. All this leads to lack of prospect and an atmosphere which facilitates global terrorism, he said. Global, mutually connected problems require a simultaneous approach and joint efforts to solve them, he said. It is high time to create a single concept of preservation of the planet, mankind, and civilisation, Mesic said, calling on all to join those efforts because the future of all was at stake. Mesic is to hold several bilateral meetings during the Johannesburg summit, and will today meet the leaders of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania and Indonesia. (hina) rml sb